State guide
Car Insurance in California
Updated August 2026
California's minimum liability limits doubled on January 1, 2025 — the first increase since 1967. Under SB 1107, the Protect California Drivers Act, policies must now carry 30/60/15: $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage (Cal. Ins. Code §11580.1b), replacing the 15/30/5 floor that had stood for nearly six decades.
California is an at-fault state with no PIP requirement, so those liability limits are the whole legal mandate. The 2025 reset moved every minimum-coverage premium in the state at once — and reshuffled which carriers are competitive at the new floor, which makes a fresh comparison more useful than any quote gathered under the old limits.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $30,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $60,000 |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: Cal. Ins. Code §11580.1b, as amended by SB 1107 (eff. Jan. 1, 2025); California DMV
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in California was $1,087 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024))
What changed in 2025 — and what changes in 2035
SB 1107 applied the new limits to policies as they were issued or renewed starting January 1, 2025, so by now active California policies have moved to the 30/60/15 floor. The law also schedules a second step: in 2035, minimums rise again to 50/100/25.
Even the new $15,000 property damage limit sits below the value of most vehicles on California freeways, and $30,000 rarely covers a serious injury claim. The gap between minimum and higher-limit quotes is often smaller than drivers expect — something a side-by-side comparison shows quickly.
The Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program
California is one of the few states with a state-created option for drivers who find standard premiums out of reach: the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (mylowcostauto.com), which the DMV points income-eligible drivers toward. Eligibility rules and program terms are set by the state, not by insurers or comparison sites.
For drivers who don't qualify, the standard market is where prices vary — nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023 (Insurance Research Council), and affordability is the most common reason. Comparing several carriers at the required limits is the practical alternative to going without.
SR-22s in California
California's DMV uses the SR-22 — formally the California Proof of Insurance Certificate — to verify coverage after certain suspensions, including DUI-related actions. Your insurer files it electronically with the DMV and must notify the state if the policy cancels or lapses during the required period.
An SR-22 marks a driver as higher risk, but carriers disagree — sometimes dramatically — about how much higher. That disagreement is the entire case for comparing quotes with a filing requirement: the same record can produce very different premiums.
Compare California car insurance quotes
Enter your ZIP to see quotes from companies writing in California. Free, about 2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in California?+
Liability coverage of at least $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage (30/60/15), under Cal. Ins. Code §11580.1b as amended by SB 1107. California is an at-fault state and does not require PIP.
When did California's minimums change?+
January 1, 2025. SB 1107 raised the limits from 15/30/5 — unchanged since 1967 — to 30/60/15, applying as policies were issued or renewed. A further increase to 50/100/25 is scheduled for 2035.
What is California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program?+
A state-created program (mylowcostauto.com) offering liability coverage to income-eligible drivers who meet the state's criteria. The DMV directs eligible drivers to it as an alternative to the standard market.
Is California a no-fault state?+
No. California is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes an accident is responsible for the other party's injuries and property damage through their liability coverage.
Ready to see your real rates?
Free, takes about 2 minutes, and you choose who contacts you.
See my rates